EU "Korea is an Important Partner... Expecting Strengthened Cooperation in the Semiconductor Sector"

'The 1st Korea-EU Semiconductor Researchers Forum' Held
"Hope for Expanded Korean Involvement in the EU Economy"

On the 25th (local time), an official from the European Union (EU) described South Korea as an important strategic partner and expressed hope that Korean semiconductor companies will expand their investments in Europe.

Lucilla Cioli, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Connect at the European Commission (left), and Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, are taking a commemorative photo at the "1st Korea-EU Semiconductor Researchers Forum" held on the 25th (local time) in Brussels, Belgium.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the same day, the Ministry of Science and ICT and the European Commission (EC) held the "1st Korea-EU Semiconductor Researchers Forum" in Brussels, Belgium. This two-day event was organized as a follow-up to the Korea-EU Digital Partnership to share the latest technological trends and research status in the semiconductor field and to discuss cooperation measures between the two countries.

Lucilla Sioli, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology at the EU Commission, who delivered the welcoming remarks at the forum, said, "We hope to see increased involvement of South Korea in the overall EU economy, including the semiconductor sector." Introducing the Semiconductor Act, she explained, "From the EU's perspective, we want to demonstrate that Europe is more attractive for investment," adding, "Today, economic security and resilience are more important than ever."

The Semiconductor Act, adopted by the EU last year to increase Europe's share in the global semiconductor market, includes numerous support measures aimed at reducing external dependence and enhancing domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, with a goal of expanding the global market share to 20% by 2030.

In particular, the EU emphasizes cooperation with "trusted" third countries due to the complex nature of semiconductor supply chains. Director-General Sioli stated, "The aim is not to achieve self-sufficiency in the semiconductor industry but to create an open economy for cooperation with strategic partners," highlighting that "the focus is on strengthening economic resilience through supply chain diversification, i.e., de-risking."

She added, "It is very important to cooperate with countries that share similar positions on economic security," and said, "Through Korea-EU cooperation, technological advancement can include democratic values and promote a common approach to digital industrialization."

Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, said, "International cooperation in semiconductors can serve as an excellent foundation for our country to challenge being the first and the best in the world," and expressed hope that "the 1st Korea-EU Semiconductor Researchers Forum and joint research will be a meaningful opportunity to activate cooperation between researchers from both countries."